Rediscovering Church: The Story and Vision of Willow Creek Community Church

Front Cover
Harper Collins, 1997 - Religion - 224 pages
Rediscovering Church is the candid story of Willow Creek Community Church's phenomenal growth, from 100 members meeting in a Palatine, Illinois, movie theater to its present Sunday morning attendance of 15,000. Bill Hybels and his wife, Lynne, tell about Willow Creek's beginnings, its struggles, the philosophy behind its success, and the strategies that have made it a model for church growth. The first half of the book, written by Lynne Hybels, explores the early years of Willow Creek and the personal accounts behind one of this century's most remarkable church stories. It offers an honest look at the ways God has used both the strengths and weaknesses of His people, creating a church of believers who have had tremendous impact for Christ in their community. In the second half of Rediscovering Church, Bill Hybels helps you apply the strengths of Willow Creek's ministry philosophy to your own congregation's mission. From mission statements to developing leadership, making sound financial decisions, and handling growth, Bill stresses that God wants to build His church to be an effective and committed community of faith that reaches out to a hurting world, to be the body of Christ in real and tangible ways. Rediscovering Church draws on the experiences of Willow Creek to show how one fellowship crystallized its mission and methodology, its vision and values. The Willow Creek story provides an example that churches and individuals alike can turn to for inspiration, encouragement, and a means of uncovering the pattern for their own unique mission and ministry.

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About the author (1997)

Bill Hybels was born in 1951 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He received hs BA degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity International University near Chicago. He also has an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Bill Hybels is the senior pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in the Chicago suburb of South Barrington, Ill. Hybels founded the church after surveying the community and designing Sunday morning services for non-believers, with services for believers held on another day. He is the creator of the Global Leadership Summit. His book, Rediscovering Church: The Story and Vision of Willow Creek, written with his wife Lynne, outlines the successful formula he used. His other books include Honest to God: Becoming an Authentic Christian; The God You're Looking For; Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing Down to be With God; Making Life Work and Power of a Whisper.

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